Our patio garden is slowly coming together. I actually sat outside for a while this morning, enjoying the view and listening to the birdsong.
It provides a nice balance for how much driving around we’ll be doing this week.
Enjoying nature
Completely done (and done in)
This photo so perfectly expresses how I feel in this moment that I have no words to add.
A day off for my brain
In the interest of rest, I’ve done my best to avoid fully engaging my brain today.
It felt nice to occupy myself with things like watching a silly movie while folding laundry; washing dishes; watering the garden; and chatting with a friend.
I think my brain appreciated the downtime.
Big decision time
Yep, I’ve reached the point at the end of a long and intense week, where all I want to think about is what movie to watch tonight!
Exciting news
I’m happy to give a shout out to The Expanding Light Retreat and Springtime at Ananda (in Crystal Hermitage Gardens), which are both reopening after being closed the past two years due to the pandemic.
There are two upcoming programs I want to mention in particular, because — surprise, surprise — there’s some wonderful music on offer!
First is an Easter weekend retreat, which will include our first performance of Swami Kriyananda’s Oratorio in the Temple of Light at Ananda Village. Although the choir will be small in numbers, it will still be a powerful experience!
The following weekend is a special Springtime at Ananda retreat, featuring the Joy Singers in a pre-dinner concert in the gardens.
If you’re looking for an uplifting, nurturing, spiritual weekend, I’d love to see you at one of these events!
Virtual community fun
Ramesha and I had such fun this morning.
We finally manifested a longtime goal of doing a satsang about music for the Ananda Virtual Community and it was a total and complete joy!
In attendance were virtual community members from nearby (Nevada City and the Bay Area), far away (Florida, Alaska, Canada), and various points in between (Nevada, Oregon, Texas).
There were people who’ve been devotees for thirty or forty years, and those who found Ananda in the last few years.
But what there was most of all, was the feeling of community, of enjoying satsang with spiritual friends, and feeling our shared devotion, dedication, and love for Master, Swamiji, our path, and this music.
Wow. I just can hardly believe how fortunate and blessed I am.
If you’d like to explore the possibility of joining together with spiritual seekers from all around the world, you should definitely check out what the Ananda Virtual Community has to offer.
The return of winter
As the old song goes, “Baby, it’s cold outside!”
Brrrr! ❄
We’ve got plants!
And I’m sooooo happy!
No, really. It’s a bit ridiculous how happy buying these plants made me.
Our patio is about to be transformed!
Patio beautification in process
On Saturday our friend, Jake, cleared away all the weeds and leaves that had pretty much taken over our patio, and it looks good.
Now the moment has arrived to beautify the bare plots of dirt by (finally) planting some greenery. Our landscaper friend, Tim, recommended Vanilla Plant (also known as Sarcococca ruscifolia), Daphne Odora, and Boxwood as being drought tolerant, deer resistant, easy to grow, and hard to kill.
Sounds perfect!
We’re planning to stop at the nursery tomorrow after my labs. I’m excited.
Highlights of a very slow day
I set the alarm to allow for over nine hours of sleep, and then chose to stay in bed and read instead of getting up right away.
I didn’t make my morning shake until lunchtime.
I laid down on the bed for a rest in the early afternoon.
It was twilight before I got myself out the door for a relaxed stroll.
All in all, I’m feeling pretty proud of myself. 😊